Police set for All Saints' and All Souls' days

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 director Lani-o Nerez said all is set for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day after all police units in Central Visayas were already issued their respective security preparations.

Nerez said he already received the security preparations of the respective police units as per Letter of Instruction to them, and they hope the holidays will be as peaceful and orderly as last year.

He said the police in Central Visayas, especially those in urbanized areas, will focus their deployment not only inside public cemeteries and their vicinities but also in bus terminals, ports, and other crowded areas during the observance.

He also ordered provincial and city directors to detail policemen along major thoroughfares, especially in highways near cemeteries to deal with traffic.

The Regional Mobile Group-7 has already been alerted for augmentation to most of the towns and cities, like Cebu City, that needs more policemen. The Special Weapons and Tactics team is also on standby for possible deployment.

Police assistance centers for the public who will visit their departed loved ones will also be set up inside and outside the cemeteries.

Nerez also told station commanders in other city police offices with no city ordinances banning intoxicating liquor not to let people who go inside the cemeteries to bring prohibited beverages with them, as well as bladed weapons and sound systems that will create noise.

Nerez also called on the mayors and other top officials of all the cities and municipalities not to issue permits for cockfights as much as possible during the said holidays so that the attention of the police will not be divided.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama is scheduled to meet with Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador and all the station commanders tomorrow to check their security plan in relation to the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

Rama who is also the chairman of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council wanted to ascertain the measures to be taken by the police.

The city has more than ten private and public cemeteries in different urban barangays under that needs to be secured during the observance.

People are expected to flock to the different cemeteries of the city on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day to visit the graves of their loved ones.

Rama said he would like to send the reminder of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to the police that peace and order should be maintained in the city all the time.

“Don’t think to cover all and then not being able to cover at all, be more specific and observant,” Rama told the police.

Barangay officials and their chief tanods will also be invited to attend the meeting together with City Traffic Operations Management personnel, street vendors and other stakeholders.

“So that we can have all of these properly discussed and they would be able to be aware of what’s going to be expected,” Rama said.

The vice mayor said he wants a collective effort for the safety of the Cebuanos under the principles of barangayan, bayanihan and volunteerism.

Comendador said he will maximize all day personnel, covert and uniformed personnel, of the 11 police stations in the city including the special units for the observance.

Comendador said he will also utilize the two recently launched mobile police outposts in the most-flocked public cemeteries in barangays Carreta and Calamba.– Elly Bolonos, Niña G. Sumacot and Ma. Emee Lucena, Day Desk editor/BRP (THE FREEMAN)